Go To Page: [ 1 ·
2 ]
In this tutorial I will explain how l created the logo for one of my network websites, www.HelpMyHits.com. The steps, and techniques used to create this logo can be applied to nearly any shape to get a really nice effect to add to your logos, and icons. In this case we'll be applying the technique to a "stick figure" type shape, to re-create the logo used all over the HelpMyHits.com website.
Here is an example of what we'll be creating today:

Page 2 of 2

Step 7.)
Now we're going to group the layers together. To do this, first create a new layer, directly above our background layer, so that it is directly under the layer named "Base".

Now click on the layer named "Base" to select it, and press CTRL + E to merge it with our previous layer.
This may seem pointless, however what we are doing is "locking" in that layer style so that it won't apply itself to any other layer we merge with this one.

So now go ahead and click on the top most layer of our logo, and press CTRL + E four times to merge all of our layers together, so we have one solid layer with our logo design so far.

Step 8.)
Okay, now press CTRL+ J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer. Press 'V' on your keyboard to get out the Move Tool () and position the duplicate as l've done here:

Press CTRL + J on your keyboard again, to make another duplication of our logo, and position it as l have done here:

You can optionally merge these three layers together by pressing CTRL + E twice on your keyboard, just make sure you are happy with the alignment of the three characters before doing so ;)

Step 9.)
Okay, now we're going to add that fancy arrow to our logo, and it's good to go. There are only a few steps to create the little arrow, and here's how it was done.

Create a new layer by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + N on your keyboard. Name this layer "Arrow Base"

Start off by getting out the Pen Tool (), now you want to trace the shape of our arrow onto. You do this by clicking on each of the corners that will be your arrow as you can see here:

After everything is said and done, here's how the shape looks:

Now right-click anywhere inside of the arrow shape, and choose "Make Selection":

Leave these settings default, and click "Okay".

Set your foreground color to #F77712, and fill this selection using the Flood Fill Bucket Tool (), result:

Step 11.)
Now we'll add the Gloss to our arrow. Create a new layer by pressing CTRL+ SHIFT + N on your keyboard. There are many ways to add this gloss, but we'll use a Layer Group, or Masking Path.
Press CTRL + ALT + G on your keyboard to Group this layer the "Arrow Base" layer. CS and CS2 users, you'll want to right-click and choose "Create Clipping Mask"

Set your foreground color to white (#FFFFFF), and get out your Paint Brush Tool (), and set it up with a soft 20 pixels in diameter:

Now lightly brush around the north facing corners of our arrow as l have done here. Just don't go over-board with it, you should be able to do this with as little as two or three clicks.

Now Change the blending option of this layer to "Overlay" and drop the opacity down to around 60 percent:

I hope you've enjoyed following along with this tutorial, and that you've picked up a few ideas, and techniques. Try experimenting with these techniques with different colors, and on different shapes. As proven by this tutorial, you can use these tips and tricks on literally any shape imaginable. If you can't think of a logo shape to use it on, go ahead and try adding it to your favorite thick/bold font just for practice. It's fun to do, and looks great!

Thanks so much for reading this tutorial, be sure to check out the rest of our great tutorials while you're here!